Hotels in Norway: four of the best

Without doubt the grooviest hotel in Oslo, The Thief, which opened in January, has
already welcomed everyone from the artists Peter Blake (there’s a suite
filled with his work) and Julian Opie to Justin Bieber. Within one of
Scandinavia’s most exciting urban renewal projects on an islet named
Tjuvholmen, once home to a 19th-century prison, the hotel has swapped
Scandinavian chic for unapologetic eccentricity, while remaining supremely
stylish. The hotel, which is right next door to the recently-opened Renzo
Piano-designed Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, has an amazing private
art collection plus pieces borrowed from the museum. The bedrooms all have
huge, comfortable beds and are decorated in a range of styles from
Biba-inspired Art Deco to playful rock glamour. The award-winning restaurant
by the chef Kari Innerå serves delicious organic Norwegian cuisine and
there’s also a champagne bar with a rooftop terrace and a spa, due to open
spring 2014. Best of all, the hotel’s ‘thing’ is its friendly, down-to-earth
service, whether you have an entourage or not.